Joe Montana Biography

The efficient passing of quarterback Joe Montana of the San Francisco 49ers helped his team defeat the Cincinnati Bengals, 20-16, in Super Bowl XXIII (January 1989). During his career Montana established himself as one of the greatest quarterbacks in National Football League (NFL) history, earning four Super Bowl championships, three Super Bowl most valuable player awards, and various other honors. He was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in 1993 and retired from football after two seasons with the Chiefs.

Joe Montana, born in 1956, American professional football player, a quarterback who led the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL) to Super Bowl victories in 1982, 1985, 1989, and 1990. He was born Joseph Montana in Monongahela, Pennsylvania, and was educated at the University of Notre Dame. As Notre Dame's quarterback, Montana was recognized for his passing ability and performance under pressure, and he helped lead the team to the national college football championship in 1977.

Montana was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round of the 1979 NFL draft. He became the starting quarterback late in 1980 and in 1982 led the 49ers to a victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl, earning the game's most valuable player (MVP) award that year. The 49ers again reached the Super Bowl in 1985, defeating the Miami Dolphins for the title, and Montana was once again named Super Bowl MVP. The 49ers repeated as Super Bowl winners in 1989 and 1990, over the Bengals and the Denver Broncos, respectively. Montana was named MVP for the 1990 game, becoming the NFL's first three-time winner of the Super Bowl MVP award.

In 1991 Montana sustained an elbow injury during training camp and in October underwent elbow surgery that caused him to miss the rest of the season. He did not rejoin the team until December 1992. In April 1993 Montana was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs. He retired from professional football after the 1994 season. During his career he was voted to the Pro Bowl game—held in February following the end of the regular season the previous December—eight times (1982, 1984-1986, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1994). His autobiography, Montana, was published in 1995.